Contents

Synopsis

Still en route to Jubilife City, Ash and co. meet a girl named Minnie who tells the gang about a Gym called the Powerzone Gym. As usual Ash wants in on the Gym Battles so he, Dawn, Brock and Minnie check it out. What kind of Gym is this, and is it authorized by the Sinnoh League?

Plot

Jessie's Dustox battles a Marowak. Dustox uses Stun Spore, but gets negated. Dustox dodges the Bonemerang, but the bone returns and hits Marowak. Marowak defeats Dustox with Bone Club. The challenger, Geoffrey, wins and gets a badge, making James sad. Meowth goes to the grocery and buys some drinks. He spots a Croagunk and makes him nervous. Meowth ignores it and goes away, but he realizes it follows him. He runs away and comes back to Jessie and James. The Croagunk followed him to there. Meowth translates that Croagunk thinks they are boring. James goes to modify its face to make it look happier, but gets hit by a Poison Jab. The Croagunk is still bored, but Jessie has an idea.

The heroes continue to go to Jubilife City and see that an Scizor approached them. A trainer comes and Brock flirts with her. The woman says they are on their way to a new Gym named Powerzone Gym. The woman is Minnie and the heroes introduce themselves. Later, they approach it. Inside, Croagunk battles a Sandslash. Sandslash uses Sand-Attack, but Croagunk dodges and defeats it with Poison Jab. Since Sandslash got defeated, Team Rocket take the trainer's Poké Ball to improve the Pokémon. Team Rocket see the heroes and think about this through. Jessie picks Minnie first to fight.

James tells it is a 1-on-1 battle. Dawn wants to see the badge. James and Meowth are surprised, as they have no other "badges". James presents the badges - bottle caps. The heroes are not much impressed, though James yells at them for that thought. Brock shots for Minnie to win, but gets pounded by Jessie. Jessie calls for the referee James, who tells Jessie wins this. Croagunk starts with Poison Sting, but Scizor evades and uses Quick Attack, then slashes Croagunk. Scizor defeats Croagunk with a Metal Claw. James goes to call Minnie a winner, but Croagunk stands up. Croagunk uses Poison Sting and Scizor misses, but Croagunk uses Poison Sting and hits Scizor. Scizor gets defeated by a Poison Jab. Team Rocket tells Minnie they will "train" it. Still, it is Ash's turn, but Jessie tells it is time for lunch, so they go out, while Jessie makes her next plan.

Ash sends Aipom. Croagunk uses Brick Break, but misses and Aipom retaliates with Swift. Aipom uses Focus Punch, hitting Croagunk, though it counter-attacks with Poison Jab. Aipom is poisoned by the attack and Croagunk attacks once more. Aipom uses Double Team and follows with Swift to attack. Aipom defeats Croagunk with Focus Punch. James tells Ash is the winner, but Meowth says that it is not over - the winner is only one who defeats Pokémon twice in a row. Jessie sends Dustox and Ash his Turtwig, but Jessie stops him and the rules tell Pikachu must battle. Ash has no choice but to send him. Suddenly, Pikachu is taken, the Gym crashes and Team Rocket take their disguises off in the balloon. The heroes go after them, leaving the Croagunk alone. Ash sends Starly, who pops the balloon using Quick Attack. Jessie sends Dustox, but it, along with Team Rocket, gets blasted off by Thunderbolt.

Minnie got her Scizor and promises to give the Poké Balls to their trainers, as she does not want yet to go on a journey. They soon see Croagunk, who didn't blast off with Team Rocket. Croagunk wants to go with Brock, who takes a Poké Ball out and gets the Croagunk. Minnie says goodbye and Brock flirts with her. Croagunk comes out and uses Poison Jab on Brock and pulls him away.

Trivia

This episode was the first to have the return of an old running gag, with a new twist: Whenever Brock flirts with a pretty girl, Croagunk would Poison Jab him and then drag him away.